The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a country in South Asia. It borders Afghanistan, Iran, India and China. The region harboured one of the world oldest known civilisations, the Indus Valley Civilisation which flourished some 4,000 years ago. In the following millennia, Pakistan was ruled by a long list of tribes including Alexander the Great in 326 BC. In 712 AD, part of the region was conquered by the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim, which set the ground for several successive Muslim empires on the Indian subcontinent.

The region was ruled by the British East India Company from the late 18th Century until the Indian Mutiny in 1857, which resulted in direct British rule of the whole Indian subcontinent. First with Ghandi’s peaceful non-cooperation movement, the region gained independence from the British Empire. Pakistan, however, together with what later became Bangladesh immediately broke apart from India and became independent in 1947. Several wars with India followed as well as a succession of changes between civil governments and military dictatorships. The last military coup took place in 1999 in which General Pervez Musharraf assumed executive powers. Pakistan is a nuclear power and member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Inhabitants: 160,000,000
Area: 880,000 km2
Capital: Islamabad (800,000 inhabitants, largest city is Karachi with 12,000,000 inhabitants)
Languages: Urdu, English
Religion: Muslims (97%), others (3%)
GBD per capita: $2,900
Government: Semi-presidential republic
Climate: Cold winters and hot summers in the north, while mild maritime climate in the south.